@@ -, +, @@ 
---
--- a/server/red_dispatcher.c	
+++ a/server/red_dispatcher.c	
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@ static RedChannel *red_dispatcher_cursor_channel_create(RedDispatcher *dispatche
     return cursor_channel;
 }
 
-RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl)
+void red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl)
 {
     RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher;
     RedWorkerMessage message;
@@ -1085,6 +1085,8 @@ RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl)
     sigset_t curr_sig_mask;
     ClientCbs client_cbs = { NULL, };
 
+    spice_return_if_fail(qxl->st->dispatcher == NULL);
+
     quic_init();
     sw_canvas_init();
 #ifdef USE_OPENGL
@@ -1175,12 +1177,12 @@ RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl)
         reds_register_channel(cursor_channel);
     }
 
-    qxl->st->qif->attache_worker(qxl, &red_dispatcher->base);
-    qxl->st->qif->set_compression_level(qxl, calc_compression_level());
-
+    qxl->st->dispatcher = red_dispatcher;
     red_dispatcher->next = dispatchers;
     dispatchers = red_dispatcher;
-    return red_dispatcher;
+
+    qxl->st->qif->attache_worker(qxl, &red_dispatcher->base);
+    qxl->st->qif->set_compression_level(qxl, calc_compression_level());
 }
 
 struct Dispatcher *red_dispatcher_get_dispatcher(RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher)
--- a/server/red_dispatcher.h	
+++ a/server/red_dispatcher.h	
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ 
 #include "red_channel.h"
 
 struct RedChannelClient;
+struct RedDispatcher;
 typedef struct AsyncCommand AsyncCommand;
 
-struct RedDispatcher *red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl);
+void red_dispatcher_init(QXLInstance *qxl);
 
 void red_dispatcher_set_mm_time(uint32_t);
 void red_dispatcher_on_ic_change(void);
--- a/server/reds.c	
+++ a/server/reds.c	
@@ -3771,7 +3771,7 @@ SPICE_GNUC_VISIBLE int spice_server_add_interface(SpiceServer *s,
         qxl = SPICE_CONTAINEROF(sin, QXLInstance, base);
         qxl->st = spice_new0(QXLState, 1);
         qxl->st->qif = SPICE_CONTAINEROF(interface, QXLInterface, base);
-        qxl->st->dispatcher = red_dispatcher_init(qxl);
+        red_dispatcher_init(qxl);
 
     } else if (strcmp(interface->type, SPICE_INTERFACE_TABLET) == 0) {
         spice_info("SPICE_INTERFACE_TABLET");
--